Education is an ever growing and involving career. Teachers understand that the students are not the only ones learning. Teachers, administration, education support staff and others who work in Early Childhood Education, must continue their own learning and education on a continual basis.
One of the best ways for educators to keep learning and stay on top of important innovations in education, is by attending educational conferences each year. Educational conferences provide educators with learning experiences as well as an opportunity to connect with co-workers and educators from around the country and even from around the world. These connections are an important way to network and learn from one another.
Educational conferences are held in all regions of the country each year, and focus on a number of specialties and fields. Regardless of where you are located there is a great conference being held near you in 2016? Check out our list of top conferences coming up next year.
1. The National Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development
Date: June 5-8, 2016
Location: Baltimore, Maryland
This annual event hosted by the National Association for The Education of Young Children aims to give educators from around the country the tools and information they need to continue bringing young children the very best education possible. The NAEYC has designed this conference for all early childhood professionals. This event is unique in that it reaches out to both leaders who prepare, mentor and support teaching professionals as well as the actual program administrators, trainers, teachers, and researchers.
During this conference, you can explore the methods that are revolutionizing classrooms around the country as well as connect with other professionals to discuss learning approaches for all students.
You can find more information on the conference here.
2. Reading Recovery Council of North America, National Reading Recovery, and K-6 Literacy Conference
Date: February 6-9, 2016
Location: Columbus, OH
This conference specifically reaches out to K-6 ELL teachers, literacy coordinators, reading specialists, as well as principals, administrators, librarians and others who interact with students in any literacy capacity. All sessions are focused on the main central goal of supporting and improving literacy instruction. Attendees learn strategies and methods to help struggling readers overcome obstacles and master the literacy skills necessary to help them succeed in life. Sessions feature true to classroom tips and practices that can be applied as soon as attendees return to their classrooms so that their students can begin improving their literacy skills.
You can find more information on the conference here.
3. National Training Institute, Effective Practices for Addressing Challenging Behavior
Date: April 19-22, 2016
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
This unique and inspiring educators’ conference has been designed by The Florida Center for Inclusive Communities along with the Pyramid Model Consortium to bring educational professionals a unique learning experience. The format of this event focuses on bringing teaching experts from around the world together to offer practical, ready to apply techniques on social and emotional development to be used to address challenging behavior in the classroom.
This event provides an unparalleled opportunity to increase your knowledge and skill base for dealing with behavior issues in your classroom as well as connecting with colleagues and build your connection with the professional educational community.
You can learn more about the conference here.
4. Frank Porter Graham Institute, Early Childhood Inclusion
Date: May 10-12, 2016
Location: Chapel Hill, NC
This unique conference is centered on the furthering education of early childhood professionals in the realm of inclusion of infants, toddlers and preschoolers with disabilities. It is the purpose of this event as well as the overall purpose of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute to provide outstanding tools, resources and information to early childhood educators so that they may be better able to provide their students with rich, educational childhood experiences.
The Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute is one of our country’s oldest centers devoted to the study of young students, their families, and educational methods. Hundreds of researchers, specialists, and staff, work tirelessly on projects related to developmental disabilities, early childhood care and education as well as the social and physical health of young children. The 2016 Early Childhood Inclusion in an opportunity for professionals from around the nation to come together and learn from this incredible organization.
You can learn more about the conference here.
5. Division for Early Childhood, Young Children with Special Needs
Date: October 18-20, 2016
Location: Louisville, KY
The conference is designed for parents, teachers, and others who care for young children with disabilities or special needs. For the purposes of this event “young children” refers to ages between zero and eight. The event focuses on children in the group which are at risk for disability or have been diagnosed with disabilities and/or developmental delay. Participants will absorb new skills and practices so that your teaching can be enhanced in your classrooms. This event also aims to support families of children with disabilities by promoting and encouraging good policies and practices in the classrooms these children attend.
This event is hosted by The Division for the Early Childhood, which promotes policies, advancements, research and evidence-based practices to support families with young children with disabilities. The annual event brings together experts in the fields of literacy, behavioral management, social and family dynamics as well as other specialties. The keynote speakers and breakout sessions held at this event will help educational professionals working with physically challenged children to bring back to their classrooms actionable tools and models to improve the entire educational experience for their students.
You can learn more about the conference here.
6. Fordham University and Los Ninos; Young Child Expo and Conference
Date: April 13-15, 2016
This New York event is designed to help teachers as well as parents of very young children and others who care for young children in any capacity. The speakers, sessions and vendors present at the Young Child Expo hope to provide these individuals with resources, products, and information to improve the growth, learning and development of the young children under their care. This is a unique event in that the sessions and events are not limited to one group of professionals, but rather individuals from all professions that interact with young children are welcomed to come and participate and learn.
The Young Child Expo and Conference began in 2003 as a development project out of Fordham University’s Graduate School of Education and the Los Ninos Services provided there. The goal was and is simple: provide useful information that can be used by professionals, parents, and other caregivers in order to help young children learn, grow and reach their full potential. This inclusive event aims to bring together individuals from all types of professions and occupations who have an interest and concern for the development of young children.
You can learn more information about the conference here.
7. National Head Start Association Conference and Expo
Date: May 16-20, 2016
Location: Nashville, TN
Hailed as one of the largest national level events solely dedicated to the Head Start and Early Start community, this event boasts an attendance of five thousand plus annually. The conference hosts over two hundred different sessions providing attendees with professional development on the given topics. Vendors, speakers, educators and educational professionals from around the globe convene together for this four-day mega event each year in order to provide educational professionals the tools, resources and support they need to go back to their classrooms energies, inspired and better equipped to meet the needs of their students.
Head Start- the original model for providing the whole child opportunities for success in education and life, has served over thirty-one million children since its inception in 1965. The annual conference is an opportunity for Head Start professionals to connect and learn together as over two hundred educational sessions provide professional development in the areas of:
Classroom management, assessments, planning, early education, early child care, health, nutrition, and safety. Other topics include parents/community and family engagements, self-development, social development and challenging behavior.
You can learn more information about the conference here.
8. ASCD – 70th Annual Conference
Date: April 2-4, 2016
Location: Atlanta, GA
If you are an educational professional in any respect; teacher, principal, school administrator, this is the one event you do not want to miss in 2016. Professionals who want to hone their teaching or administrative skills will find hundreds of resources and educational sessions tailored just for you. This event is hosted by The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. This mega event boasts twenty-two pre-conference institutes along with over two hundred professional development sessions. Keynote speakers from around the country will convene to share their wisdom, experiences and tips with you. Attendees will return to their classrooms inspired and ready to implement the wonderful new skills they have learned.
You can learn more information about the conference here.
9. International Reading Association
Date: July 9-11, 2016
Location: Boston, MA
The International Reading Association Conference hosted each year by the International Literacy Association brings together thousands of members as well experts from around the globe to provide hundreds of professional development sessions for teachers. Literacy professionals in all aspects of education will benefit from the resources and networking available at this event.
You can learn more information about the conference here.
10. Global Summit on Childhood
Date: March 31-April 3, 2016
Location: San Jose, Costa Rica
While childhood is being shaped during such a transformational time in a human’s life. This event brings together experts and professionals from around the world to explore and teach the role of childhood in ensuring a positive human future despite the rapid changes all around us. The Summit is a chance for professionals to connect and learn together as well as celebrate innovative research and practices that support a positive childhood for each child.
You can learn more information about the conference here.